On April 18, 2019, the official keel laying ceremony for two new ASTON ships, DIANA MARIA and EKATERINA, was held in Shanghai

On April 18, 2019, the official keel laying ceremony for two new ASTON ships, DIANA MARIA and EKATERINA, was held in Shanghai

18 April 2019

On April 18, 2019, the official keel laying ceremony for two new ASTON ships, DIANA MARIA and EKATERINA, was held in Shanghai

ASTON continues its cooperation with Chinese shipyards for construction of modern ships with 8,000 tons dead weight which is maximum size allowed entering Don Ports.

"Keel laying" is a ceremony, when a memorial fitting board is installed at the place where the ship construction was commenced, specifying name of the vessel, date of construction and information on the ship building company. Fitting board installation is deemed as an official commencement of the construction.

DIANA MARIA and EKATERINA – are contemporary ships in which engineers will employ the most current shipbuilding trends. Their operation will make it possible to increase cargo turnover of ASTON Company, improve infrastructure of Don Ports and generally complement export capacity of Russia.

While addressing to partners in Keel Laying Ceremony Leonid Semenovich Radchenko, representative of ASTON, Director General of Moryak OJSC, noted: “Idea of ship building was born long enough, over 20 years ago... We have been going to it consistently: at first, we were engaged in reconstruction, upgrading and improving of vessels. But 2 years ago we have come to recognize that we should build a new, modern technologically advanced fleet.

To implement these plans we have carried out negotiations with different companies and we are very glad we have found you! And most important we were able to make arrangement about start of construction works a year ago. Solution of this task was not so easy, but the more pleasant it is that today the project has been widely implemented. ASTON Company’s future plans include building of 10 bulk carriers with dead weight of 8000 tons and today we lay down first 2 vessels, starting our important and long-term project. This event became possible thanks to shipyard personnel – a team of top-qualified shipbuilders – people who know everything about ships. I believe that even greater victories await us ahead and our roads, once came together, will make up a long and successful path to prosperity“.

Planned date of first vessel supply – November 30, 2019, the second one – December 30, 2019. Overall length of each vessel makes up 140.9 m, width – 16.8 m.

Read the short description of the yard:

Let me introduce the back part of the project and the ceremony.

Jiangsu Dajin Heavy Industry is one of the most medium-sized shipbuilding companies in China, headquartered on the south coast of Yangzi, Jiangsu Province. The company was founded in 2006. The Company has over 200 hectare of land, 1500 m river coast , 200 tons gantry crane, slipway 3, maximum dead weight of the ship 30000DWT. Focusing on building of offshore construction, shipbuilding, special vessel, chemical tankers etc. the shipyard has already supplied 110 ships since its foundation.

The parent company Bestway group is a leading marine and engineering group in China, which is a joint-stock company with a total capital of USD 700 millions.